Postage printer -for tape



Feb. 11, 1947. P RYAN EAL 2,415,762

POSTAGE PRINTER FOR TAPE Original Filed April 29, 1940 5 Sheets-Shae; 1

INVENTORS flan/f]? Sqg er lammadorefl Egan BY 34 y, Hm md ATTORNEYS Feb. 11, 1947. g, j RYAN 2,415,762

' POSTAGE PRINTER FOR TAPE I Original Filed April 29, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS fianlf 1. 54,421" (ammadorefl Ryan man e .F 9 c. D. iRYAN EIAL 2,415,762

- POSTAGE. PRINTER FOR TAPE Original Filed April 29, 1940 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I (mum/m fl Fqqn/ wnmunflu m 11, 1947- c. D. RYAN EI'AL POSTAGE PRINTER FOR TAPE Original Filed April 29, 1940 5 Shee-ts-Sheei 4 16] fammoda're ,2 Egarg/ aux-w INVENTORS Finn/6 .7. 5a

flTTORNEY5 1947- c. D. RYAN ETAL POSTAGE PRINTER FOR TAPE Original Filed April 29, 1940 5 She etsSheet 5 Eanlf HTTORNEYS Patented Feb. ll, 1947 POSTAGE PRINTER FOR TAPE Commodore D. Ryan, Los Angeles, and Frank P.

Sager, Alhambra, Calif., assignors to Commercial Controls Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Original application April 29, 1940, Serial No. 332,305. Divided and this application July 29, 1943, Serial No. 496,559

Claims. l

This invention relates to a tape feeding device for a postage printing machine.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide as an integral part of a mail treating machine, a gummed tape feeding device which may be positioned for operation or retracted to its inoperative position by the actuation of a single lever, and which tape feeding means is provided with suitable control means to prevent misuse which would result in waste or loss of postage.

Another object is to provide a tape feeding device of the above nature which is simple and sturdy in construction and operation and capable of extended rigorous use. Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

This application is a division .of the copending application of Frank P. Sager et a1., Serial No. 332,305, filed April 29, 1940.

In the drawings wherein we have shown a preferred embodiment of our invention,

Figure l is a perspective view of the mail treating machine;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmental sectional elevation showing in detail the tape feeding device in its rest position; 7

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmental sectional elevation showing the tape feeding device in its retracted inoperative position;

Figure l is an enlarged composite View of the upper portion ofthe tape feeding mechanism, the tape compartment door and the interlocking mechanism therebetween;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, with the exceptionthat the tape compartment door is shown open, in which position the interlocking mechanism will be actuated, to retract the tape safety fingers to facilitate threading of the tape into the device;

Figure 6 illustrates the upper portion of the tape feeding device and shows the manner in which the interlocking mechanism will operate to lock the machine against operation when the cut end of the tape is out of position;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line in Figure 6; and,

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 with the exception that it shows the operation of the interlocking mechanism to lock the machine against operation when an insuflicient amount of tape to complete a full stamp remains in the tape feeding device.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the various views of the drawmgs.

The preferred embodiment of the mail treating machine illustrated in the drawings is an all purpose machine, that is, a machine readily adjusted to treating all types and classes of mail matter including first, second and third class mail, registered mail and parcel post, and for printing any one of a wide range of postage values, namely from one-half cent to ninety-nine dollars and ninety-nine and one-half cents by steps of one-half cent, for all of the above classes of mail matter and parcel post. The machine provides for treating the above classes of mail matter at high speed and under full control and protection against waste of postage or unauthorized use, and maybe easily and conveniently adjusted to seal and stamp or stamp without sealing or sealing without stamping envelopes of various lengths, widths and thicknesses.

The following description of the machine and its operation will be generally directed to the use of the machine while printing postage on gummed tape. In general, accordingly, the machine includes the following major elements and instru mentalities which, for convenience, Will be identified by the general reference numbers preceding each of the these elements and instrumental- I ities:

The tape feed portion 653 (Figure 2) of the tape feeding device I58 includes a frame member I03 provided at its lower portion with an inner bearing I04 and a spaced outer bearing I95 slidably mounted upon the positioning structure connecting rod 614.

To maintain frame I03 (Figure 3) in proper position during all of its movements, the upper end thereof is provided witha transverse pivot pin IE6 upon the outboard end of which is fastened a collar I91 having an annular groove I08 which groove receives the guide surface I09 of guide plate H0. The guide plate is mounted upon the front face of one of the main machine brackets (not shown) as by means of suitable screws H l.

The guide plate am is shaped as shown most clearly in Figure 3. The guide surface I09 thereof is curved to substantially coincide with the path of travel of the grooved collar I01 during the raising or lowering movement of the tape feeding device to or from its printing position. The guide plate H is provided with a horizontally extending guiding surface H2 overhanging in spaced relation the guide surface I09 for guiding the grooved collar when the tape feed portion 653 of the device is shuttled during a tape printing cycle of operation.

A tape guide chute I I3 is mounted upon frame member 103 and includes an entrance portion H4 flared as at H5 (Figure 2) to facilitate entrance of tape therein.

The guide chute above its entrance end is provided with reverse curve portion I I6 having suitable openings for a manual feed roller mechanism III which mechanism is employed when threading tape into the chute.

From the reverse curve portion H6 the chute extends upwardly and is provided with a horizontal portion the chute is open at its top and bottom, to straddle the platen roller 321 and the printing plates carried by the printing drum.

The manual feed roller mechanism H'I may include a feed roller H9 journaled upon frame member I03 by hearing pin I20. The feed roller H9 is preferably provided with ratchet like teeth I2I against which one end of a leaf spring I22 acts to prevent reverse rotation of said roller. The opposite end of leaf spring I22 is fastened to the underside of the tape chute in any suitable manner. The ratchet like teeth I2I also act against the summed surface of the tape to assist in propelling the tape through the chute. A pressure roller I23 is journaled upon the free end of a lever I24 by a bearing pin I25 while lever I24 is pivotally attached to frame member I03 by a pivot pin I26. A tension spring I21 acting between lever I24 and spring pin I28 carried by the frame member I03 acts to yieldingly press the tape against the teeth of feed roller H9.

The feed roller H9 is provided with a forwardly extending knurled sleeve portion (not shown) for manually turning the feed roller when threading tape into the chute.

A tape roll magazine, generally indicated at I30 may include a housing I3lfastened to the intermediate portion of shaft I32. One. end of said shaft i securely mounted in one of the main machine brackets in any suitable manner (not shown). The forward end of shaft I32 is provided with an extension I33 pivoted to said shaft by hinge pin I34.

To mount a roll of gummed tape I35 in the magazine, the shaft extension I33 should be moved into axial alignment with the shaft and thereafter the roll of tape may be 511d onto the shaft and into the housing. After the roll of tape has been mounted within the housing, a retaining plate I36 may be positioned on the shaft and the shaft extension I33 swung downwardly into a slot I3I formed in the hub portion I38 of said plate in the manner shown in Figure 2.

The housing I3! is cut away to permit the tape to feed therefrom and a roller I39 is journaled in brackets I40 carried by the housing to guide the tape as it feeds down under a loop forming roller MI. The tape I35 loops around roller MI and extends up into and through the tape chute H3.

The loop forming roller I4! is journaled upon the forward end of a swing arm I42 which arm at its opposite end is pivotally mounted upon the positioning shaft 661 (Fig. 2).

The loop forming device pulls from the roll a suiiicient amount of tape to provide for the printing of a stamp and maintains this loop under proper tension to insure a uniform resistance during the printing of the stamp independent of the amount of tape remaining on the roll.

During the printing of a stamp the tape is rapidly pulled through the tape chute I I3 and if the tape was passed directly from the roll to and through the chute it would tend to rupture in its attempt to overcome the inertia of a full heavy roll or if said tape did not rupture, it would tend to spin the roll unwinding more tape than necessary, and as a result the tape would pile up and foul in the magazine or between the magazine and entrance to the chute, thus rendering the operation unreliable.

When a roll of tape becomes used up, a new roll may be easily and quickly mounted in the magazine in the manner previously described and likewise easily and quickly threaded into proper printing position in the tape chute by pulling out from the new roll a sufficient length of tape to place it over roller I39, under the looping roller MI and into the entrance portion of the chute unit the end of the tape engages the manual feed roller mechanism III whereupon the operator may easily feed the tape through the remaining portion of the chute by turning the knurled sleeve I29 of said feed mechanism.

If an excessive length of tape has been unwound from the roll for the purpose of threading the tape into the chute, this excessive tape may be rewound up the roll.

Retaining plate I36 is preferably made of sufficient length to provide a guide for maintaining the tape upon rollers I39 and MI.

The tape feeding mechanism is provided with safety devices to prevent the operation of the machine and thereby the possible wastage of postage unless the tape is correctly positioned within the tape guide chute H3 (Fig. 4) and unless suflicient tape is contained within the chute to more than complete the printing of a stamp.

The first of these two safety devices 9H may include a detecting finger 9l2 slidably supported upon the rear side rail 9 adjacent the discharge end of the horizontal portion I I 8 of the tape guide chute H3 by a headed pin 913 which extends through a suitable slot formed in the end portion of this finger.

The tape guide chute adjacent the feeler end SIS of the finger is provided with an opening 9H5 through which the end 9I5 will project when the tape does not extend past this portion of the chute as shown in Fig. 6. Howeven when the tape extends beyond this portion of the guide chute, it covers opening 916 (Fig. 4) thus preventing the end 9l5 of the finger from entering into said opening. In this way unless the tape is in correct position to start the printing of a stamp, the detecting finger will actuate and through means to be described, will lock the machine against operation.

For this purpose the lower end of detecting finger is connected to a lug 9 I 1 formed adjacent the upper end of stop lever 919 as by a pivot pin 91 9. The stop lever 9l8 is mounted upon frame membar 103 by a pivot pin 929. A compression spring 92 i is interposed between frame 193 and stop lever 9l8. The purpose of spring 92! is to yieldingly urge the detecting finger 9l2 into the opening 9l6 formed in the guide chute. When the tape does not extend across the opening 9|6, spring 92l will move the detecting finger 9E2 and stop lever 9H8 to their respective positions as shown in Figure 6. However, when the tape covers the opening, the detecting finger 952 and stop lever 9H3 will be to their respective positions as shown in Fig. 4. The manner in which stop lever 9l8 functions to prevent operation of the machine will be described presently.

The second portion 922 of the safety device may include a bellcrank lever 929 pivoted to frame member 193 by means of pivot pin 929 which is the same pivot pin supporting the stop lever 918. The bellcrank lever 923 is provided with an arm 925 having an offset end 925 which cooperates with an anvil block 929 having a groove 927 into which the offset end 925 of the bellcrank lever is yieldingly urged as shown in Fig. 8 by means of a spring similar to spring 92 I, which spring is directly in back of spring 9% and, therefore, cannot be seen in the drawings and said spring interposed between the frame 793 and the bellcrank lever stop arm 928. The offset end 925 of *bellcrank lever 923 will enter the anvil groove 92! when the tape does not extend through this portion of the tape chute 7 l3. For this purpose, at this locality, the top and bottom plates of the guide chute are slotted. The anvil block 929 is positioned sufficiently remote from the discharge end of the tape guide chute H3 to insure a sufficient supply of tape being contained Within the guide chute for the printing of at least one complete stamp, and this portion of the safety device will function to lock the machine against operation in those cases where there is an insufiicient length of tape remaining in the chute for the printing of one complete stamp. This condition is shown in Fig. 8 wherein the offset end 925 of bellcrank 923 has swung into the anvil groove 92'! and its stop arm 928 has swung into locking position. The stop arm 928 of bellcrank lever 923 corresponds to the position of stop lever 9l8 as shown in Fig. 6.

The mechanism by which these two safety devices function to prevent operation of the machine includes a control lever 929 securely fastened to the forward end of control shaft 939 which shaft is journaled in bearing 93! on frame member H13 (Fig. 4) and has fastened to its rear end a cam lever 832. A torsion spring 933 is mounted upon shaft 939 between the end of bearing 93| and cam lever 932 and. acts between these two members to yieldingly maintain stop lever 929 against stop pin 934. As may be observed in Fig. 4, the push rod 839 is provided with a collar 935 keyed thereto by means of pin 936, against the under surface of which the free end of cam lever 932 is positioned to be engaged when the push rod 969 is depressed.

The control lever 929 at its free end is provided with two outwardly projecting spacedlugs, namely a short lug 931 and a longer lug 938 providing an open space 939 therebetween into which space the free ends of stop lever 9|8 and stop arm 928 are positioned when the tape is properly positioned and contained within the tape guide chute 7 l3 as shown in Figure 4. The positioning of the two safety devices as just described will permit the machine to be placed in operation by means of the manual tripping lever which in the manner described in the above-noted application depresses the push rod 899 for actuating the meter clutch tripping mechanism (not shown). During the downward movement of push rod 999, collar 935 will engage the free end of cam lever 932, rotating said cam lever in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4 and through its connection with control lever 929, will likewise rotate this lever in a clockwise direction. This condition is clearly shown in Fig. 4, whereupon the control lever will swing freely past the ends of stop lever M8 and stop arm 928 thus permitting the machine to be placed in operation with the assurance that a full and complete stamp will be printed during the operating cycle of the machine.

The first safety device 92 I will function to lock the machine against operation when the tape does not extend across opening 9% to prevent the movement of detector finger 9l2 therein. This condition is illustrated in Fig. 6 and as the'tape is not in position to prevent the entry of detecting finger into opening 9N5, the compression spring 92! will act to advance the detecting finger and as a'result the stop lever 919 will swing until its abutting end overlies the long stop lug 938 of control lever 929. This will prevent rotation of the control lever in a clockwise direction as viewed in this figure and as a result will lock the manual tripping mechanism so that it cannot be actuated to place the meter driving clutch in operation. This condition can be corrected only by advancing the tape until it again covers the detecting finger slot 9%, thereby returnin stop lever 9? to its normal position as shown in Fig. i whereupon the manual tripping mechanism may be operated in the manner described.

The second safety device acts to prevent operation of the machine when an insufficient length of tape remains within the tape guide chute H3. Fig. 8 illustrates the manner in which the second safety device will operate to lock the ma.- 7

chine against operation. In this figure, it may be observed that the end of the tape no longer extends across the anvil block groove 92? to prevent the entrance of the offset end 925 of the second safety device bellcrank lever 923 therein, and as a result the bellcrank lever will rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8, thereby swinging the abutting end of its stop arm 928'over the long stop lug 938 of control lever 929 and as a result locking the control lever 929 against rotation. Thus it will be seen that the locking of control lever 929 will prevent the machine from being manually placed in operation unless there is sufficient tape contained within the tape guide, chute M3 to more than print a complete stamp.

The front plate I59 of the machine is provided with a relatively large opening 999 (Fig. 4) to permit access to the tape magazine 13!] for replenishing'the supply of tape therein. The front plate opening Mills provided with a door 9 having hinge brackets 942 hinged to the front plate I60 by means of hinge pins 943and a hand knob 945 fastened adjacent the upper edge of the door by means of screw 94G extending through the door from the rear side thereof and screw threaded into said knob. A grooved latch bushing 941 is mounted upon screw 946 between the head portion thereof and the rear face of the door. A latch pin 948 is slidably mounted within a suitable bore 949 formed in the frame plate N59. The latch pin is provided with a rounded point for yieldingly engaging the groove formed in the latch bushing 94'! and at its opposite end is provided with a head 950 for seating in the bottom of the counter-bored portion of latch pin bore 949 when the door is swung open. A compression spring 95! is provided to act between the head portion of latch pin and screw plug 952 screw threaded into the upper end of the counterbored portion of the pin bore. This structure provides a spring latch for yieldingly maintaining the door MI in its closed position. The door is opened to enable a fresh roll of tape to be mounted within the tape magazine in the manner previously described.

To facilitate threading of the new tape into guide chute H3, means are provided for automatically retracting the two safety devices 9 and 922 when the door 941 is opened and at the same time to lock the manual tripping mechanism so that the machine cannot be operated with a possible wastage of postage when the door is open. This automatic means includes a push rod 953 (Figures 2, 4 and 5) slidably extending through front plate bearing 954 and meter supporting bracket bearing 955. The push rod may be offset at 958 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 to clear the tape magazine and other parts of the machine. The forward end of push rod abuts against the rear face of door 94d sothat when the door is closed, the end of the rod will be maintained in its retracted position (Fig. 4), and when the door is opened to project forwardly as shown in Fig. 5. The rear end of push rod 953 engages a horizontally extending arm 95! projecting from the lower end of shaft 958 which shaft is journaled in brackets 959 and 960 securely fastened to the rear face of meter bracket I52 as by means of screws 96i (Figs. 4 and 5). To maintain shaft 958 in vertical alignment in bearings 959 and 960, a cotter pin 962 extends through the shaft just above bearing 959 and a thrust washer 963 is interposed between the cotter pin and upper surface of the bearing. The upper end of shaft 958 is provided with a horizontally extending arm 954 which when the door 94l is in its closed position as shown in Fig. 4, extends in front of the stop lever 918 and stop arm 928 of the two safety devices 911 and 922. As will be noted in this figure, suficient space is left between the stop levers and shaft arm 95d to permit the stop levers to function in the manner previously described. However, when the door is open as shown in Fig. 5, the shaft arm 969 will engage and swing the stop lever 988 and stop arm eza rearwardly. This action will position stop arm 928 directly above the short lug 93'! of control lever 929, thereby locking the control lever against clockwise rotation as viewed in this figure and in this way, as previously described, will lock the manual tripping lever so that the machine cannot be placed in operation. Swinging of the control lever 9m and control arm 928 rearwardly serves to withdraw the feeler finger 9|2 of the first safety device clear of the path of travel of the Cal tape through the horizontal portion N8 of the tape guide chute H3 and to lift the offset portion 925 of bellcrank lever 932 of the second safety device 922 clear of the anvil and its groove 921. The retraction of the two safety devices is for the purpose of facilitating threading of the tape into the tape guide chute I I3 in the manner previously described.

A tension spring 965 (Figs. 4 and 5) is interposed between the horizontal arm 951 and meter bracket [62. As arm 951 is relatively close to the rear face of bracket I62, it is preferable to extend the tension spring through a suitable opening formed through this bracket and to secure the inner end of spring 955 to the forward face of this bracket by means of spring pin 966. The tension spring 965 yieldingly acts to maintain arm in engagement with the rear end of push rod 953. When the door is opened to release the push rod 953 the tension spring will act to retract the two safety devices in the manner described. The return of the door to its closed position will act to positively rotate shaft 958 and to thereby return the shaft arm 954 to its inoperative position as shown in Fig. 4. The operation of the safety devices upon opening or closing of the door is simple and effective and not only prevents accidental operation of the machine which may cause a waste of postage, but also facilitates threading of the tape into the tape guide chute H3. This constitutes one of the important features of the machine.

It will be understood that the tape feeding device need be only threaded when a new roll of tape is mounted therein and that it may be moved freely from its non-printing to its printing positions and vice versa without disturbing the position of the tape within guide chute H3.

It will accordingly appear that our tape feeding device described above attains the several objects noted herein in a thoroughly practical and eflicient manner.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. In a tape printing machine having a printing head, means for guiding tape from its supply to printing register wherein the free end of the tape is located adjacent said head, a detecting means located to engage the tape adjacent its free end at the exit end of said tape guiding means when the tape is in proper printing register, and means operatively responsive to said detecting means for rendering the machine inoperative when the end of said tape is not in position to be engaged by said detecting means.

2. In a tape printing machine, a magazine from which a supply of tape is withdrawn, a casing enclosing said magazine and having a suitable opening, a closure for said opening, means for guiding tape from said magazine to printing register, a detecting means located to engage the tape adjacent its free end when the tape is in proper printing register, and operative for rendering the machine inoperative when the end of said tape does not engage said detecting means, and means actuated by the opening of said closure for retracting said detecting means to facilitate threading of the tape into said guide means. r

printing register, and operative for rendering the machine inoperative when the end of said tape does not engage said detecting means, and means actuated by the opening of said closure for rendering'the machine inoperative, and for retracting said detecting means.

. 4. In a tape printing machine, a magazine from I which a supply of tape is drawn, a casing enclosing said magazine and having a suitable open ing, a closure for said opening, means for guiding'the tape from said magazine to printing register, a detecting means located to engage the tape at a locality spaced from the leading end of said tape a distance equal to or greater than the length of tape necessary for one or more printing operations, said detecting means being operable for rendering the machine inoperative when the trailing edge of the tape passes from under said means, and means actuated by the opening of said closure for retracting said detecting means to facilitate threading of the tape into said guid means.

5. In a tape printing machine, a magazine from which a supply of tape is drawn, a casing enclosing said magazine and having a suitable opening, a closure for said opening, means for guiding the tape from said magazine to printing register, a detecting means arranged to engage the tape at a locality spacedfrom the leading end of said tape a distance equal to or greater than the length of tape necessary for one or more printing operations, said detecting means being operable for rendering the machine inoperative when the trailing edge of the tape passes beyond said means, and means actuated by the opening of said closure for rendering the machine inoperative and for retracting said detecting means.

6. In a tape printing machine, in combination, a printing head, a magazine from which a supply of tape is withdrawn, a casing enclosing said magazine, means in said casing defining a tape chute for guiding the tape from the supply to a printing register position adjacent said printing head, and detecting members located at the entrance and exit of said chute on opposite sides of said printing head for engaging the tape when the tape is in proper printing register, said detector members being operative for rendering the machine inoperative when said tape does not engage said members.

7. In a tape printing machine, in combination, a printing head, a magazine from which a supply of tape is withdrawn, means in said casing defining a tape chute for guiding the tape from the supply to a printing register position adjacent said printing head, detecting members located at the entrance and exit of said chute on opposite sides of said printing head for engaging the tape when the tape is in proper printing register, said detector members being operative for rendering the machine inoperative when said tape does not engage said members, and means for retracting said members to facilitate threading of the tape into said chute.

8. In a tape printing machine having a printing head, in combination, a magazine from which a supply of tape is withdrawn, means for guidwherein the free-end of the tape is located under said printing head in a position to receive an impression therefrom, manually operable means for actuating said machine to print on said tape, and detecting means adjacent said tape guidin means and adapted to engage the tape when the tape is in said proper printing register and operative to preclude operation of saidmanually operable means when said tape does notengage said detecting means.

9. In a tape printing machine, in combination, a rotatable platen, a rotatable printing head, means including a clutch for rotatin said platen and head, means for guiding tape to printing register between said platen and head, detecting means located on opposite sides of the nip between said printing head and platen to engage the tape when the tape is in proper printing register, means for effecting actuation of said clutch to cause rotation of said head and platen, and interlock means and said clutch associated with said detecting means and effective when said tape does not engage said detecting means to prevent operation of said clutch actuating means.

10. In a tape printing machine, in combination, a printing member, means defining a tape chute for guiding the tape to a printing position adjacent said printing member, said chute having openings formed therein adjacent its entrance and exit ends and on opposite sides of said p ing member, detector fingers located at said entrance and exit ends of the chute and extending through said openings respectively for engaging the tape when the tape is in proper printing position, and means responsive to said fingers when said tape does not engage both for rendering the machine inoperative.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the operating mechanism of the machine includes a clutch and clutch actuating means, and means forming an interlock between said fingers and said clutch actuating means for preventing operation of said clutch actuating means when the tape is not engaged by both of said fingers.

12. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the entrance and exit ends of said chute are connected by a curved portion, and said detecting members comprise fingers pivotally mounted on said tape chute defining means.

13. In a tape printing machine, in combination, a rotatable platen, a rotatable printing head, tape guiding and supporting means, means mounting said supporting and guiding mean for bodily movement into and out of operative position relative to said platen and head, said guiding and supporting means having tape entrance and exit ends, and detecting members mounted on said guiding and supporting means so as to be movable therewith and located at'said entrance and exit ends for engaging the tape when the tape is in proper printing register relative to said platen and head and said detecting mem bers being operative for preventing rotation of said platen and head when said tape does not engage said members.

14. In a machine for printing a postage value on a strip of tape, thecombination of, a platen, a printing head, tape guiding and supporting means, said guiding and supporting means being of a length in excess of the length of the printed matter impressed on the tape by the printing head, and detector means associated with the said guiding and supporting means and located -on opposite .sides of the nip between the platen and printing heads for preventingoperationof the printing head'when the length of tape in the uiding and supporting means is insufiicient to receive a full impression from the printinghead.

15. In a, machine for printing a postage 'Value on a, strip of'tape, the combination of, a platen, a printing head, tape guiding and supporting means, said guiding and supporting means being COMMODORE D. RYAN. FRANK P. SAGER.

REFERENCES, CITED The following references are-of recordin the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,782,470 'Heisler' Nov. 25, 1930 1968,2260 Frederick July 31, 1934 1,987,563 Moss Jan. 8, 1935 1,490,887 Albrecht Apr. 15, 1924 1,963,205 Lawrence June 19, 1934 1,814,178 Muller July 14,1931 1,879,964 Whitlock Sept; 27, 1932 714,790 Elliott Dec. 2, 1902 1,968,166 Pythian et 'al. July 31, 1934 731,530 Wood June 23, 1903 1;1'76;542 Goldenstein Mar. 21, 1916 I FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 352,649 British July 16, 1931 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,415,762. February 11, 1947.

COMMODORE D. RYAN ET AL.

It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Column 3, line 17, for the reference numeral 810 read 710; column 5, line 66, for 832 read .932; column 10, line 21, claim 9, strike out the Words and said clutch and insert the same after detecting means, line 22, same claim; and that the said Letters Patent should be read With these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 2nd day of September, A. D. 1947.

LESLIE FRAZER,

First Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

